STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Junior Melanie Casteel (Dallas, Texas) pocketed her first double-double in Blue and Gold and freshman Emily North (Red Oak, Texas) amassed a season-high 48 assists as the Texas A&M-Kingsville women's volleyball team pulled out barnburner over the St. Mary's Rattlers, 18-25, 25-23, 25-18, 21-15, 17-15, at Wisdom Gym in Stephenville, Texas on Saturday afternoon.

Casteel's 16 kills were accompanied by the same number of digs, the most she's tallied in 2018. Her kill total was also matched by junior Sarah Miller (Long Beach, Calif.). Junior Talleyshia Morris (Tulsa, Okla.) posted season-bests in both kills, with 10, and blocks, with seven.

For North, her 48 helpers dwarfed her previous season-high of 34. She also picked up 12 digs for her fifth double-double of the year.

The Rattlers took over the first set from the jump, building an 8-3 lead, never leading by fewer than three after that. It took four set points before St. Mary's was able to secure the game, but TAMUK service error ended the frame.

The sides were unable to separate during the second stanza that included 17 ties. Neither team could get a lead larger than two as St. Mary's tied up the game for the final time at 22. At that point, an error by Monica Ramon and a smash from junior Talleyshia Morris (Tulsa, Okla.) put the Javelinas at set point. On TAMUK's second try, an attack error by Monica Ramon put the match back on even terms at 1-1.

A 7-4 edge for the Blue and Gold in set three was quickly erased when SMU rattled off seven consecutive scores. TAMUK's answer was a 10-2 run, during which Morris pocketed two kills and a block and freshman Jordan Wonders (Corpus Christi, Texas) added two more kills. The Javs led 17-13 and that lead would not go away. The Javelinas finished the frame with a 5-1 spurt, finished off by a block, courtesy of Casteel and senior Haley Hutchinson (Georgetown, Texas).

The Rattlers were the first side to gain breathing room in the fourth, using a 6-1 spurt to go ahead 15-9. Three straight scores by TAMUK brought them within, but they could pull no closer. St. Mary's stretched their advantage to 22-15 before K.K. Payne delivered the final blow to push the match to set five. SMU hit .205 in the frame.

An early 6-2 TAMUK lead was eventually erased St. Mary's, as they forged a 9-9 tie. The final frame would be tied five more times before the Rattlers arrived at a 15-14 match point. Miller's final kill evened the score again and she followed with an ace to move the Javelinas in front. Casteel's final blast of the night ended the drama.

The Javelinas will return to the Steinke Physical Education Center for their second weekend of home conference play, which will begin with a match against West Texas A&M on Friday at 7 p.m. Fans can keep up with Javelina volleyball throughout the season by following @JavelinaVB on Twitter and @javelinasports and @JavelinaVB on Instagram, liking Javelina Volleyball on Facebook and visiting Javelinasports.com to keep up with Javelina volleyball all year long.